Foldable shopping bag



Feb. 3, 1959 v s. AUDITORE 2,

FOLDABLE SHOPPING BAG Filed March 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GRACE AU DITORE W. ATJOPAZX Feb. 3, 1959 G. AUDITQRE FOLDABLE SHOPPING BAG Filed March 28. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GRACE AU DITORE U ited States O FOLDABLE SHOPPING BAG .GraceAuditore, Bronx, N. Y.

Application March 28, 1957, Serial No. 649,237

1 Claim. (Cl. 150-1.7)

large internal volume when expanded, the bag being foldable to a small fiat form so that it can be carried in a pocket or purse.

A further object is to provide a bag of the character described with a carrying handle which can be arranged as a drawstrap or alternatively as a handgrip of fixed size.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a bag embodying the invention, the bag being in partially expanded form.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another longitudinal sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a persective view of the bag fully expanded.

Figs. 5-9 are plan views of fabric pieces used in the bag structure.

Fig. is a perspective view of the fully folded bag.

Fig. 11 is 'an elevational view of an internal portion of the bag showing a modified form of drawstrap construction.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a bag B having a hollow body formed from a single generally rectangular piece of thin clothfabric 20. The piece of cloth fabric has two pairs of deep lateral notches 21, 21' and 22, 22'. The ends 24, 25 of the fabric piece form the outer sides of the bag. The bag body is made by folding piece 20 along lines 26, 27, 28. Transverse fold 27 will be disposed internally as shown in Fig. 2 when the bag is partially expanded to serve as an expandable gusset. Folds 26 and 28 will be disposed in Opposing positions at the bottom of the bag. Edges 30, 30' are sewn together by stitching 32, and edges 31, 31' are formed by stitching 32'. The free ends 35, 36 of piece 20 define the open top of the bag. These ends have folded lines 37, 38 to form the top edges of the opening. The edges of notches 21, 22 are joined byoblique lines of stitching 39 and the edges of notches 21', 22 are joined by oblique lines of stitching 40.

A plurality of cloth strips 42 are formed into loops 43, 44 by folding the strips along dotted lines as shown in Fig. 9. Four spaced loops 43, 44 are provided on the respective sides of the bag at the interior thereof.

Two flat rectangular cloth fabric pieces 45, as shown in Fig. 8, are formed into pockets 46, 47 which are sewn to sides 24, 25 in the interior of the bag. The pockets are centrally disposed in opposing relation near the open top of the bag. Slide fasteners 49 and 50 are provided for effectively closing the pockets 46, 47.

Two cloth drawstraps 51, 53 are provided. Strap 51 extends through the loops 43 on side 24 and strap 53 extends through the loops 44 on side 25. These straps are stitched to the ends of the bag at abutting edges or margins 30, 30 and 31, 31' respectively. The straps can be drawn through the loops 43, 44 to constrict the open top of the bag as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each strap is formed from a long, narrow cloth fabric strip 55 as shown in Fig. 6. The dotted lines indicate the folds made in the strip to reinforce it since each strap is used in double thickness.

A tab or flap 56 is sewn to the top of side 24 at the center thereof just above slide fastener 49. This tab is formed from two rectangular pieces of cloth fabric 57, each having a pointed end 58 as shown in Fig. 7.

A snap fastener element 59 is secured on the pointed end 58. A mating snap fastener element 60 is disposed on side 24 near the center thereof.

T he bag can be folded on two longitudinal lines 61, 61' and three transverse lines 62, 63, 64 to the flat compact form shown in Fig. 10. The tab or flap 56 will then extend over the folded sections and snap fastener elements 59, 60 will be secured together.

In Fig. 11 is shown a modified structure in which strap 51 is provided with spaced buttonholes or slots 66, 67. These buttonholes are so spaced that they can be engaged with spaced buttons 68, 69. The buttons are located just above the ends of the slide fastener 49. A similar arrangement of buttonholes and buttons is provided for strap 53. The spacing of the buttons is less than the spacing of the buttonholes. Thus the straps can each be drawn through the loops 43, 44 a predetermined length to provide handles of fixed size. When the straps are disengaged from the buttons they serve as draw members to constrict the top opening of the bag.

The several cloth parts of the bag can be made of rayon, nylon, cotton, etc. Instead of fabricating the bag of cloth it can be made of synthetic non-woven thermoplastic material and the seams may be made by heat-sealing rather than be stitching.

If desired, another snap fastener element 59 can be located on pocket 46 and flap 56 can serve as a closure for the pocket when the mating snap fastener elements 59, 59' are engaged.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A foldable bag, comprising a single substantially rectangular piece of fabric having its sides stitched together to form a compartment with an open top and opposed generally rectangular sides, said piece having two pairs of notches joined together to form an inwardly extending expandable gusset at the bottom of the compartment, a plurality of fabric loops disposed in spaced positions inside the compartment at the top thereof, a pair of draw straps extending loosely through said loops and secured at opposite ends to margins of said rectangular sides, a tab carrying a fastener element secured to one of the rectangular sides at the top thereof, another fastener element disposed centrally on the exterior of said one rectangular side, the two fastener elements being mating members arranged to be engaged when the bag is folded into a compact flat rectangular form, said straps being adapted to serve as handles for the bag when withdrawn outwardly therefrom, a pair of rectangular pockets secured respectively to inner portions of said opposed sides, each of said pocket having a slide fastener closure, said pockets being wholly disposed within said compartment, each of said straps having a pair of spaced buttonholes, and a pair of buttons secured to each of said sides adjacent the ends of the slide fasteners, the spacing of .4 said buttonholes being greater than the spacing of said buttons on each side of the bag. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,711 Dwyer July 21, 1922 1,553,697 Lederer Apr. 17, 1924 2,038,952 Niedofi et a1 Apr. 28, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,066,709 France Jan. 20, 1954 

